Malacañang on Monday called on government officials favoring a closer alignment with China to publicly declare their positions, reaffirming the Marcos administration’s commitment to protecting national sovereignty in ongoing maritime disputes.
The Palace statement follows Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.’s call for pro-China officials to resign—a stance that drew sharp criticism from Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, who accused the defense chief of “demonizing China” and enforcing a political loyalty test.
Responding to the backlash, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro urged officials aligned with Duterte’s perspective to be transparent.
”[P]ara makita natin kung sino ba talaga ang totoong nagmamahal sa bansang Pilipinas,” Castro said during a press briefing.
Castro emphasized that public servants must put national interest first, describing it as “very alarming” that a lawmaker would view Teodoro’s patriotism-driven remarks as a loyalty check. She clarified that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his cabinet fully support Teodoro’s statement.
”Ang sabi nga ng pangulo pagdating sa pagpuprotekta sa ating interes kahit anuman ang ating kulay, kahit magkakaiba ang pananaw sa ibang issues pero ang patungkol sa pagmamahal sa bansa hindi ito pinag-uusapan,” she added.
While acknowledging Manila’s vital trade and economic ties with Beijing, Castro emphasized that commercial relations remain separate from the territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.
UN Submission Defended
Malacañang also stood firm on the Philippines’ submission of Bajo de Masinloc’s official nautical chart to the United Nations, rejecting Beijing’s claims that the move violated international law.
Castro maintained that the filing fully complies with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and domestic statutes.
”Hindi tayo lalagpas diyan, hindi tayo mang-aangkin ng teritoryo, ng anumang karapatan ng iba,” Castro stated.